[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 120 (Thursday, September 12, 2013)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1299-E1300] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] HONORING BRUSHY CREEK CHURCH ______ HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON of mississippi in the house of representatives Thursday, September 12, 2013 Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a pillar of the community, Brushy Creek Church. Brother Edward Spencer was the founder of Brushy Creek Church. He was born in Virginia in 1819 and was brought to Mississippi by the slave traders at the age of 9. He professed religion in 1849 but remained in the white Baptist Church until 1869 as a free man. Brother Spencer was appointed deacon by the white Baptist Church and decided that he needed to seek shelter for his own race. So with the assistance of others Brother Spencer succeeded in building a church approximately 30 x 40. Not being satisfied with this he then organized a Sunday school and afterwards a public school and later he added another 10 making the church 30 ft. x 50 ft. Brother Edward Spencer was the father of 14 children, often having to be away from his family traveling back and forth to church. In his old age, trying to return home about 7:00 p.m., he fell a victim to death on the roadside and was found on a Tuesday morning. His funeral was attended by his wife, who was approximately 90 yrs. of age, 2 surviving children, Pastor R. B. Jordan and the mothers of Brushy Creek Church. He was buried on land he had purchased more than 31 years before. The church was repaired under the administration of Rev. R. B. Jordan of Jackson MS. He made the walls higher and made room for the pulpit and he added a deacon board to the church: Bro. L. A. Catching, Bro. V. L. Harper and Bro. Joe Murry. The Brushy Creek Missionary Baptist Church has its roots in the Hopewell Baptist Church from which development of a separate church began in 1853, with the establishment of a separate room for the black members of the congregation. In 1866 the black members of Hopewell Baptist Church voted to hold separate services every third Sunday and called Bro. Theophilus Green, ``a white man'' to serve as pastor. The final break with the Hopewell Baptist Church came in October 1869 when Brushy Creek Church was organized with 50 charter members. In March of 1877, the Sunday School Roll had record that there were 26 members: Fifteen males and eleven women including the superintendent, Bro. Edward Spencer Sr., the Secretary, Bro. Calvin Spencer and the Treasurer, Bro. George Green. The original church was actually at Brush Harbor where members met on land owned by Mr. Retinor who eventually deeded the land to the church. The first church structure was a log building. Then a lumber building finished in 1902 and a stone building rebuilt in 1951. Rev. Hugh C. White of Raymond, MS, who became pastor in February 1930 in the year 1931 was paid as low as $2.50 per month and as high as $31.67 per month but received plenty of chickens, potatoes, greens, and eggs as a partial payment. Rev. Hugh White along with the board elected a grievance committee and a grave section. In reading the records Rev. White took in many candidates for baptism and baptized them in the creek in back of Reno's Store. Rev. White gave his resignation in March 1934 and said his last sermon would be the 3rd Sunday in December 1934. Rev. E. G. Roberson was motioned in April 1935 to serve as tentative pastor of Brushy Creek until the year of 1935 was out and on February 15, 1936 became the permanent pastor and the members voted to move the church to the top of the hill during the year of 1936. The church records reflect Rev. S. M. Dukes of Jackson, MS was elected pastor of Brushy Creek Baptist Church in 1952. Under his leadership, Bro. Joe Haley was added to the deacon board. He served as pastor for a number of years, after which the Rev. Nick C. Bradley of Jackson, MS. Under his leadership the church was repaired by building a bell tower approximately 30 high. Following his administration, Rev. A. Banks of Jackson, MS was elected pastor of Brushy Creek and served one year. No records were found in regards to his accomplishments. Records reflect that Rev. Willie H. Hines was the next pastor who was elected and served for 26 years, under his leadership many souls were bought to Christ and many accomplishments were made. The building addition added was 16 x 40. Rev. Hines later moved to Hattiesburg where he also had a church. [[Page E1300]] Brushy Creek Baptist Church elected Rev. Hugh Lewis to serve as associate pastor for the remainder of the year. Rev. Lewis then became Brushy Creek's pastor and served for over 20 years. Under his leadership he added more deacons and made many accomplishments such as adding a fellowship hall, hot water heater, reroofing the church, installing an inside baptism pool, the concrete was poured in front of the fellowship hall, water fountains, carpet, P.A. System, new organ, new ladies room at the front entrance, new pulpit, floors partially replaced, new light fixtures, a bus was purchased and later sold for $500.00. Rev. Hugh Lewis gave his resignation in December 2003 and recommended that Rev. Gregory D. Brown be over the pulpit until it was decided who the next pastor would be. Rev. Gregory D. Brown was nominated Pastor of Brushy Creek Church and preached his first sermon as pastor in December 21, 2003. Rev Brown was installed as pastor February 8, 2004. Rev. Brown previously served as Moderator of Brushy Creek New Hope Association. The membership has grown and he restored services back to full time with services starting at 9:00 a.m. for Sunday school, and morning worship starting at 10:30 every Sunday. Congressman Bennie Thompson Foundation donated two laptops to the church. The congregation both, children & adults, have benefited from the donation. Congressman Thompson's Foundation was also very instrumental in the donation of 5 acres of land that was acquired August 27, 2010 for church use only from Sis. Mary Jane Catchings, who was once a member of Brushy Creek Church. Rev. Brown has served as our pastor for 9 years and still serves faithfully. On June 16, 2013 we will be celebrating 144 years of the church's anniversary and the funds raised will go toward our dream of building a new church. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Brushy Creek Church as they strive to be the foundation for others to find the joy of serving God through His Son, Jesus Christ. ____________________